No surprise, up until yesterday Elance has been less than helpful regarding my two issues: 1) the provider who insists on plagiarizing my profile and 2) the proofreading of a thesis project that was delisted although I vehemently disagree with the logic.

Outcomes:

After posting a semi-nasty (though completely honest)comment on the Water Cooler re: my issues, Elance finally responded to me. They are looking into the plagiarizing issue and as far as the rules regarding academic projects, here is there response:

Below is an excerpt from our TOS about academic projects.

Post any project, submit any bid or proposal that violates, or has the potential to violate, the integrity of academic and professional applications, tests and work; for example by passing off the skills, ideas or words of another as one’s own; using another’s production or content without crediting the source; presenting as new and original, ideas or products derived from an existing source; presenting fabricated facts, persons or sources as real.

This is absolutely crazy. I understand that there are often buyers looking for someone to write their papers for them. Clearly, that is a violation of policy. No disagreement there. However, a student whose first language may not necessarily be English, who is looking for a professional to PROOFREAD their thesis for the purpose of catching any errors is not looking to violate any rules or endanger the integrity of the work. Not to mention the fact that I have it in writing as to what the buyer specifically wants and does not want.

Bottom line is that I am being penalized financially for something that does not violate any rules and that I have proof of. I am so frustrated with the hypocrisy of ELance’s system.

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